Matt R. Raven is a Professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University. He serves as Coordinator for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Education and is a faculty coordinator at the Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center (UPREC) in Chatham, Michigan, with responsibilities in community food systems. His academic background includes: B.S. in Plant Science (Agronomy and Range Science), University of California at Davis Ag Specialist and Life Science Teaching Credentials, University of California at Davis Masters in Agricultural Education, Kansas State University Ph.D. in Agricultural Education, The Ohio State University Dr. Raven's research integrates three interconnected domains: pedagogical approaches in higher education, innovation diffusion in sustainable agriculture, and holistic food-soil-human health systems with emphasis on grazing livestock for soil regeneration. His work bridges academic theory with community-scale applications. His publications (2017-2022) demonstrate consistent focus on sustainable agriculture education, soil health innovation, and rural outreach. Research trends reflect applied interdisciplinary work connecting environmental science, education theory, and community development. Awards: Distinguished Teacher Award (Michigan State University, 2020) Leadership & Grants: Coordinates MSU's Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource teacher preparation program. Secured major external funding including a $19M soil health initiative (2022) and future farming grants (2017). Leads field operations and community partnerships through UPREC.





